EXCLUSIVE: Academy Award-winning producer Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook) is set to produce The Fifth Beatle, about the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The English entrepreneur Paul McCartney dubbed “the fifth Beatle” helped launch the career of the Fab Five and managed them until his death by accidental overdose in 1967. He was also a closeted gay man whose close relationship with John Lennon was the subject of the 1991 Sundance entry The Hours and Times. Pic is scripted by Tony-winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary (Green Day’s American Idiot, Mel Brooks’ The Producers) from his own forthcoming graphic novel with art by Andrew C. Robinson and cartoonist Kyle Baker, which Dark Horse releases November 19. Tiwary will produce alongside Cohen, who won the Oscar in 2000 for American Beauty. Production is set to begin in 2014.

8 Comments

cp • on Sep 30, 2013 10:45 am

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Rock on, Vivek!!!

x • on Sep 30, 2013 10:45 am

there appear to be several of these projects floating around. not familiar with this one. the script for the playtone project is very good but i think “A Life in the Day” which David Permut is producing is the best one — that script is amazing and comprehensively covers the entire story. Wish that one was going forward…

this is awesome. i read a preview copy of the graphic novel and was absolutely blown away. have been a huge fan of V as a producer, had no idea he could write! and Bruce is a class act. this is a great project and a great team. i’m sure the movie will be fantastic!

Brad • on Sep 30, 2013 10:45 am

Huge coup to get the rights to the original songs. Hope this means other Beatle projects will be able to use the music as well.